The Effect of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin and Ketoprofen Applications on Pregnancy Rates in Dairy Cows After Artificial Insemination

Abstract

The aim of the presented study is to investigate the effect of providing progesterone (P4) support for the formation and maintenance of pregnancy or suppressing the luteolysis mechanism during the maternal acceptance process on pregnancy rates. For this purpose, 96 Holstein cows, aged between 2 and 8 years, were synchronized using the Ovsynch protocol to align their estrous cycles. After artificial insemination, the cows were divided into four groups. The group receiving Human Chorionic Gonadotropn (hCG) on the 6th day after artificial insemination (H; n=20), the group receiving Ketoprofen on the evening of the 15th day and the morning of the 16th day after artificial insemination (K; n=24), the group receiving both hCG on the 6th day and Ketoprofen on the 15th day evening and 16th day morning after artificial insemination (HK; n=25), and the control group (C; n=27) that did not receive any post-insemination treatment were established. Pregnancy checks were conducted on the 30th, 45th, and 60th days through rectal and ultrasonographic (USG) examinations. According to the results of the pregnancy examinations, it was determined that 9 out of 20 cows (45.00%) in Group H, 10 out of 24 cows (41.67%) in Group K, 16 out of 25 cows (64.00%) in Group HK, and 12 out of 27 cows (44.44%) in Group C were pregnant. No statistically significant difference (P>0.05) was observed among the groups. Our results suggest that a multi-purpose treatment may be required to reduce pregnancy loss during the early pregnancy period in cows due to an approximately 20% increased pregnancy rate after administering hCG and Ketoprofen. However, further studies, especially involving more cows, are necessary to optimize and use these combined treatments and potentially increase pregnancy rates.